During the dramatic 2012/13 season, Martin joined Swindon on loan from Norwich City, scoring once from 12 appearances.

Fabrizio Piccareta told The Adver last week about how some players love the demands Di Canio placed on them, and some found him overbearing.

Whilst Di Canio memorably said that he would “put my own money in” to keep Martin, along with fellow loanees John Bostock and Danny Hollands, Martin was not quite so keen on the Italian.

"I didn't really know too much about Paolo Di Canio as a manager before I went,” he said, speaking to The Adver with Lyllo Casino. “I was just trying to get out on loan from Norwich. I started the season under Chris Hughton, and he'd said that I wasn't really going to play. 

"I was just desperate to go out and play some games. Then the opportunity at Swindon came up under Paolo, which was an interesting time, let's put it that way.

"It was tough. We clashed a few times, I would say. I'm quite outspoken as a player, which isn't always the norm that managers are used to. So if I had an issue or if I felt I had a point to make, then I wasn't afraid to speak up. I don't think he was particularly enamoured by that at all. We had a couple of clashes.

"He was a hard taskmaster. I remember we were in every single day, it was tough sessions all the time, no days off. I think in Europe, in Italy especially, that's just how it is. 

Paolo Di Canio directing from the touchline

"You're expected to be at that level, and it's quite different in the English game or from what I was used to. He certainly ruled with an iron fist, shall we say.

"I was fit, but I didn't really play my best football. It wasn't my finest hour, which I can admit to; I didn't play my best stuff. 

"Later on in that season, I ended up going on loan to Derby, where I had a little bit more success.

"I look back at it with a smile. It was an interesting time and funny to be a part of, something that I'd never experienced up to that point and haven't ever again, just with how he acted. It was up and down. There were some funny stories and interesting anecdotes.

"He's obviously very emotional and let people know how he felt both with his words, his actions, and his mannerisms.”

Chris Martin celebrates his only Swindon Town goal in the snow

Martin played for Swindon at a time when they were arguably at their 21st-century zenith, featuring during the period when they were Europe’s top scorers, although, apparently, the lads forgot to tell him about that one in the dressing room.

"I didn't actually realise that was the case,” he said. “I left at the end of January or start of February and went back to Norwich, then went back out on loan.

"I remember Matt Ritchie very well. Matt Ritchie has obviously gone on to have a great career. I remember him being a big driving force with goals and assists.

"At the end of January, that's when they sold him behind the manager's back, which caused it all to kick off at that point as well.

"Andy Williams played quite a lot. We had players like Si Ferry. There were some good players in that team; Aden Flint was there, making his name in the game. 

"But, from a personal point of view, I don't look back at it with too much fondness in terms of the quality that I played with as an individual."